Also, today would have been the birthday of 2-time All Japan Tag Team Champion Gary Albright (50) and one-time WWF Tag Team Champion Moondog King (64)

In Memoriam

On this day in 2002, the wrestling world lost 2-time WWF European, Tag Team and Hardcore Champion ‘The British Bulldog’ Davey Boy Smith at the age of 39. Smith debuted in his native England aged just 15, competing on the famed ‘World of Sport’ television show, where he wrestled the far more experienced Bernie Wright to a time-limit draw at one fall each. He also competed against or alongside Big Daddy, Dave ‘Fit’ Finlay and Blackjack Mulligan before moving to Canada at the behest of Stu Hart. During his time at Stampede, he also made his first tour of Japan, where he and Tom ‘Dynamite Kid’ Billington teamed as ‘The British Bulldogs’ for the first time in 1984. Later that year, the pair were signed by the WWF, where they would become one of the top tag teams in an initial 4-year run. In 1988, he left the promotion following an incident between Billington and Jacques Rougeau, following which they returned to Stampede and All Japan. The pair had a falling out in 1990, and Smith returned to the WWF alone. It was during this run where Smith hit the peak of his popularity, culminating in an Intercontinental Title victory over Bret Hart at Summerslam 92, though he would be released from the company barely 6 months later after it was revealed that he (as well as The Ultimate Warrior) were receiving shipments of steroids. Brief runs in WCW (from where he was released after yet another behind-the-scenes incident) and the UK preceded another WWF return. This run was somewhat less memorable, but did include Tag Team and European Title reigns before he left the promotion again following the Montreal Screwjob. A second WCW run ended after he was released while recovering from a serious back injury suffered after landing on a trap door built into the ring. His final major run was with the WWF in 1999-2000, when he was used primarily as a midcard talent. He was admitted to rehab by Vince McMahon in 2000 after developing an addiction to painkillers but was released from the company during the treatment process amid rumours of a relapse. He had been training for a return to the ring when he suffered a heart attack whilst on holiday with his girlfriend in Canada. His autopsy revealed that steroid use may have played a part in his death, however, the only clear results were that stress, serious injury and drugs had taken their toll